ADA – The East Central University soccer team will get ready for the second half of the Great American Conference schedule this week, as they hit the road to face Northwestern Oklahoma State and Southwestern Oklahoma State.  The Tigers (5-4-2, 2-1-2 GAC) will play the Rangers, Thursday, Oct. 12 at 6 p.m. and then battle with the Bulldogs, Saturday, Oct. 14 at 11 a.m.

ECU is coming off a key road weekend, where they picked up four points in the Arkansas swing of the year.  The Tigers tied with Harding (1-1) and then defeated Ouachita (1-0).  The weekend moved from fifth to a fourth in the conference standings, where four team make the GAC Championship tournament.

ECU is currently averaging 2.00 goals per game and allowing just 0.82 by its opponents.  The Tigers are also leading 89 to 65 in shots on goal, with a .454 to .339 shots on goal percentage lead.

Freshman Allie Verner and sophomore Kay Woodring led the team with three goals each, while sophomore Alexis Castillo and junior Kendall Cook, sophomore Jordyn Gibbs and freshman Courtney Tracy all add two goals each.
Junior Chloe Hull has been strong in net for ECU, earning three shutouts and helping with a fourth.  Hull has a 0.86 goals against average on the season and a .849 saves percentage.

NWOSU comes into the week with a 3-8-1 overall record and a 2-4 mark in the GAC.  The Rangers and the Bulldogs will face each other, Tuesday, Oct. 10 in Alva, before hosting ECU.  NWOSU is averaging 1.33 goals per game, but allows 3.08 by the opposition, and trails 73 to 141 in shots on goal for the season.

The Rangers have five players who have tallied multiple goals on the season, with two leading the way with four each.  Karla Lopez and Yazmin Gomez have each tallied four goals and assist for nine points to lead the team this season.

NWOSU has played three different goalkeepers this season, with Kylee Loustaunau playing in all 12 matches and recording most of the time in net.  Loustaunau has allowed 32 goals and stopped 87 shots for a 2.89 goals against average and a .731 saves percentage.

Earlier this season, the Tigers claimed a 1-0 win over the Rangers in Ada.  The win improved the all-time series to 11-1-3 in favor of ECU, with a 9-0-2 mark when playing as league opponents.  When playing in Alva, the Tigers hold a 4-1-1 lead in the series.

SWOSU is currently 6-3-2 overall and 3-1-2 in the league before their match against NWOSU.  The Bulldogs are averaging 2.64 goals on the year, while allowing 1.64 by the opposition.  SWOSU has also doubled its shots on goal (124-62) for the year.

Aimata Rabo is the clear offensive leader for the Bulldogs, scoring 12 of the team's 29 goals and adding seven assists for 31 points.  Sandra Nabweteme is next on the goals list with four, while adding three assists for 11 points.

Lexie Bates has seen most of the time in net for SWOSU, earning a 5-3-2 record.  Bates has allowed 17 goals and stopped 36 shots for a 1.71 goals against average and a .679 saves percentage.

After drawing a 0-0 double overtime tie with the Bulldogs earlier this season, ECU pulled the all-time series closer, currently at 10-12-3.  When playing as GAC opponents SWOSU leads 8-2-2 and its had an 8-3 lead when playing in Weatherford.